Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare
- Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Picture a meeting of the government of your country. There’s probably some yelling, lots of interrupting, and maybe some objects being thrown. Could you imagine if each member of the government was silent for a few minutes after anyone said anything to allow time for thinking?

That’s how things are done with the Iroquois. The Iroquois is an ancient confederacy of five tribes of Native Americans. Their Constitution was a big influence on the writers of the US Constitution. But their meeting style, which was very slow and polite, has not been adopted by Western Culture.

For an example of Westerners talking over each other, there’s no need to look further than this site. All the audio files in the lessons are real conversations, and as many of you have noted in comments, the speakers often talk over each other. Listen to Marni and Mason talk over each other once again.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read
- Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study
- Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Mason: Yesterday, seriously, I was checking out some of the backlog lessons…

Marni: Yeah…

Mason: ...and I was looking at the comments and people point out that we talk over each other all the time.

Marni: We do, and I think you and I are probably some of the worst…

Mason: Probably…

Marni: ...offenders. And we’re doing it again!

Mason: I don’t know why. OK, whoa, my turn. When I think why, I just get really excited, you know? I get involved in the conversation.

Marni: Well, I also think it’s part of normal conversation. I think we do that a lot in this culture. We just kind of interject and it’s not necessarily seen as a taboo, but I can understand where somebody who’s like trying to understand what we’re saying is probably really annoyed with us.

Mason: Of course maybe I just start talking over you because you talk so long and I have to get my words in edgewise.

Marni: But I also think it’s a good point to bring up because it is kind of wrong. We should be better listeners in this culture, and I think things would be a lot different if we really listened to each other.

Mason: As sarcastic as you’re being, I agree with the valid point underneath your wit. It’s a lesson I should really take to heart.

Marni: We all should.

Quizzes

Lesson MP3

Discussion

Mason noticed that a lot of comments on the lessons here on Ebaby! are from people saying that it’s hard to hear the audio because the speakers are talking over each other. Then he and Marni start talking at the same time.

Mason thinks he butts into the conversation because he’s excited. Marni thinks it’s a cultural thing. It’s just not regarded as rude in the US to interrupt every now and then. It takes a while to make that point, so Mason jokes that he has to interrupt her because she talks so much.

But even if it happens all the time, talking over other people means you’re not a very good listener. Marni thinks the world would be a better place if people listened to each other more. The way she says it is pretty corny, so Mason makes fun of her a little, but he agrees with her point.

Do you talk over people when you speak English? What about your first language?

One of the morals one must take into consideration is to give much more attention to someone while speaking to you . Let him say all he wants to say without interrupting him.Even if he is saying something unpleasant or meaningless ,it is a kind of good manner to listen to him attentively in order to give him/her an impression that you are so much interested in what he is saying.

im from China,talking over when other peole is speaking is very not polite.of cousre you can practise equoence and ideation in the speaking contest,but that is impolite and rude in our ral life.in my opinion,when other is telling a stroy to you ,you become a better listener.that is very nice each other.have a try that,i think it is good!